cruise altitude

cross-country navigation cross-country planning EAA AirVenture FAR 91.159 FD winds flight planning flight training hemispheric rule student pilot VFR flight planning VFR navigation weather briefing winds aloft forecast

Traffic Pattern Jul 22, 2026

Ninety-One One Fifty-Nine, the Hemispheric Rule, and Choosing a Cruise Altitude That Keeps You Legal and Alive on the Way to Oshkosh

How to choose a legal VFR cruise altitude under FAR 91.159's hemispheric rule - and how it changes for the Oshkosh arrival.

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Traffic Pattern Jun 25, 2026

The Winds Aloft Forecast and the cruise altitude decision that changes everything about your cross-country

Decode the winds aloft forecast (FD winds) to choose the optimal cruise altitude, avoid icing, and plan faster, safer cross-country flights.

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Traffic Pattern Apr 24, 2026

Reading the winds and temperatures aloft forecast and picking the altitude that actually gets you there faster

Learn to decode the winds and temperatures aloft forecast and pick a cruise altitude that saves time and fuel.

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